Canadian Gulfstreams - Part 4

During the early 1980s, corporate jet buyers expressed their interest in an aircraft that could fly farther and faster, be more fuel efficient and produce less noise in the process. More stringent noise regulations were threatening operational flexibility, especially at sound sensitive airports. Dassault responded on Sept.21, 1984, when its Falcon 900 wide-body tri-jet first flew. It could fly 4,300NM at Mach .75. This presented a challenge to the Gulfstream III's range of 3,650NM at M.77. A year later, on Sept. 19, 1985, the first Gulfstream IV flew. Its range was 4,220NM at M.80. Besides being capable of flying 15% farther than the GIII, it had a 4.5' longer cabin and quieter Rolls-Royce Tay engines. A year after that, on Sept. 28, 1986, the first Canadair Challenger 601-3A flew. Its range was 3,100NM at M.80. After their respective certifications, all three were operating with flight departments in the fall of 1987.

The first Canadian GIV (c/n 1032, C-FSBR) was delivered to Denison Mines in Toronto in November 1987. The loyal Gulfstream customer had previously operated a GI, a GII and a GIII. It would be almost six years before another new GIV was delivered to a Canadian customer. The Seagram Company of Montreal took delivery of c/n 1207 (C-FDCS, later C-FJES and N77SW) in August 1993. Its U.S. subsidiary (Joseph E. Seagram & Sons) had been, and would continue to be, a significant Gulfstream operator. Over time, it operated two GIIs, two GIIIs, seven GIVs and two GVs.

When previously owned GIVs became available at more attractive prices, Canadian operators took more interest in the type. Since 1993, two GIVs (c/n 1065, C-FCNR and c/n 1103, C-FHPM) and five GIV-SPs (c/n 1224, C-GEIV; c/n 1238, C-GCPM; c/n 1336, C-FORB; c/n 1382, C-GMRX; and c/n 1466, C-FLMS) have been operated by Canadian companies. In addition, three previously owned GIV-Xs (G450s) have been purchased by Canadians. These have included c/n 4030, C-GXDN; c/n 4047, C-GFCP; and c/n 4308, C-FDBJ.

As had been the case with the GIII, the Canadian market proved to be a difficult one for Gulfstream to penetrate with the GIV. Likewise, Dassault delivered only three new Falcon 900s to Canadians from 1987 until 2000. The Canadair/Bombardier Challenger 600/601/601-3A/601-3R/604/605/650 family has dominated the high end corporate jet market in Canada. Of the 901 fourth generation Gulfstreams built, only 12 have worn a Canadian registration. Only a pair were purchased new.

Photos by Frederick K. Larkin

Gulfstream in Uniform : Part IV

Gulfstream IV family

The US military continued their relationship with Gulfstream when the airframer introduced the Gulfstream IV and then the updated IVSP. Entering service in 1990, the US Air Force operated two C-20H and flew the type until 2017. Upon retirement from USAF service, one went onto the civil market while the other was transferred to the US Army (90-0300) which joined the single C-20F which has been in Army service since 1991.

The US Navy operated four C-20Gs, equipped with a cargo door, they are able to operate with a mixed passenger and cargo interior. Later requirements by the Navy to replace the ageing C-20A in the CATBIRD role was made easier with the C-37A entering service, this allowed C-20G (Bu165151) to take up the CATBIRD duty and is still current today. To make it a full house, the US Marines operate a single C-20G, this airframe (c/n1200) was severely damaged by a tornado in Florida back in 1998, after a complete rebuild of the forward fuselage, wing and tail section it was able to return to USMC service in 2001.

Foreign operators of the Gulfstream IV have seen service with a handful of forces, Saudi Arabia, Ireland, Oman, Chile, Turkey, Botswana, Pakistan and the Netherlands have all flown the Gulfstream IV.  But two other nations have flown the type in a different role to the normal VIP duties.
Sweden : Three Gulfstream IVSPs, (one is a standard VIP jet) but the other two were purchased to replace a pair of French built Caravelles, the Gulfstreams are locally designated as the S102B Korpen and have multiple external lumps and bumps housing a range of intelligence equipment. Their main mission is focused around the Baltic Sea area.
Japan : Five Gulfstream IVSPs have been delivered to the JASDF with a rapid change interior, these jets are used in a multi mission role. Much like the US Navy birds, the JASDF Gulfstreams are equipped with a side cargo door. The conversion of the locally designated U-4 was carried out by Marshalls Aerospace at Cambridge Airport, England. All five U-4s are still kept very busy at their Iruma Airbase.

Gulfstream updated the ageing GIVSP with the Gulfstream G450. This type has only entered military service with Pakistan and Mexico before the production line ceased in 2017.

Photo by Richard Flagg

Random Gulfstream photo #31

Eric the Pilot has sent me some pics from his G450 buddies. Panamanian based and seen at Aspen recently. Wonderful conditions to have a camera and access.

Another G450 for Flexjet

G450 N457FX (4154) arrived at Long Beach yesterday from Portland. This will be Flexjet's 8th G450 but I'm sure it will receive a new coat of paint before entering service with them as it still retains the colours of the previous Chinese operator. Whether this is part of the long term plan or a reaction to the late deliveries of G500s will probably never be admitted. Hopefully these new models will appear by the end of the year. The latest member of the fleet was caught on short finals to Long Beach by Michael Carter.





Superior Interiors

As well as new models being displayed by manufacturers at EBACE in Geneva, there were a number of aircraft on the market looking for buyers. This year, there were 3 in the static park and I was able to go on board them to have a look round. Thanks to the lovely people at Jetcraft and Jet HQ for accommodating me.


G450 N125GG (4302) sports this blue look

G550 N550JH (5492) even has a bed for those long flights





Round-up 15/5

G650 N1BN (6205) was cancelled to China on the 7th. No B- registration known yet. G650 N305KN (6142) now shows as an ER. 6313 has also been upgraded to an ER. G550 N577GA (5577) looks to have done a first flight from Savannah on the 8th. A 6th G600 has been registered. N600GU (73006) sounds like it could be a replacement for G650 N650GU. A recent video has been uploaded showing G1 9S-GTH (086) arriving at Rand. The 9S prefix replaced 9Q last August. G450 N667HS (4131) has finally come out of the hangar at Luton (after 9 months) but now carries N667H. Following some engine runs, it did an air test on the 12th and ferried down to Biggin Hill on the 13th presumably for painting as has 2 large green patches, one either side. A G650 in the same scheme has just been seen at Long Beach. See pic. G650 6308 has just cancelled to the Caymans. No other details.



G450 landmark

Gulfstream have recently announced that the first G450 has just completed it's 1000th test flight. It first flew on 30th April 2003, a few days short of 15 years ago. I can personally confirm that the G450 is a lovely aircraft to fly in.

N401SR (4001) departing Luton on a rare visit in September 2008



5 hours on the Costa Brava

An opportunity to increase my hours flying on Gulfstreams couldn't be passed up so yesterday I could be found checking in to the Harrods terminal at Luton with my good friend Wes just after 6am. A minimal queue at reception and at just the mention of our names, we were escorted in to the lounge where we helped ourselves to coffee. We were flying on Pen-Avia's G450 and just before departure, the captain came for a chat and then we were climbing in to a van that took us to the steps of G-ULFM. A few photos were taken although the sun had only just risen.

Once on board, emergency procedures were explained and I was strapped in to the jump seat for the departure. We taxied off stand 71, headed up Delta and were cleared to backtrack and depart from runway 26. Airborne at 0720 and a steady climb to FL450. I returned to the cabin where coffee was served. Tried to soak in the whole experience but all too soon, we were descending and we landed in Girona, Spain (GRO/LEGE) at 0854z (0954 local) which gave us a flying time of 1 hour 34 minutes. Some more pics were taken as the weather was slightly better than home and then driven to the terminal. We picked up a hire car, drove to Barcelona for an Easyjet flight back to Luton which just wasn't the same.

Round-up 25/7

Another fairly quiet week. The 3 G5s operated by the Government of Kuwait have been cancelled to the US as follows. 9K-AJD (560) became N55BM, AJE (569) to N27KB and AJF (573) to N62FF. These were originally delivered between November 1999 and February 2000. These have now been replaced by 4 G650s. The address shown on the register for these is for STA Jets at Orange County airport (KSNA). Will be interesting to see if there is any more life left in these. G450 N450ME (4361) flew Savannah-Bradley-Savannah yesterday so another delivery closer to the end of the line. The 2nd G550 for the Polish Air Force is expected in Warsaw at the weekend.

9K-AJF arriving at Geneva in 2011

 

Round-up 18/7

Starting today's report with an interesting change of registration. G450 N178SD (4111) was cancelled to Egypt on the 10th. Possibly for the Government? G550 N553GD (5553) was cancelled to Taiwan on the 13th. Awaiting to hear new reg. New G650 G-LLWW did a training flight on the 15th visiting Exeter, Jersey, Biggin Hill and ending up at Bournemouth. The latest G280 ferry flight saw N824GA (2124) arriving at Stansted on the 16th and continuing to Halifax on the 17th. Might add this type to the delivery list soon.

G280 N824GA arriving at Stansted by John Lythgoe

Final G450 identified

The final G450 to be built has just had the registration N607D allocated to it. This will be build number 4365, the 365th G350/G450. The FAA register shows allocations up to 4370 but the last 5 on there will not be built. This model followed on from the G4/G400 which had a run of 536 which means the 4th generation of Gulfstreams will just exceed a total of 900 which will be a record that is unlikely to be bettered. My 200th blog post.

N820AV (4002) was shot by Jason Hamm at Little Rock in 2009



Pendley G450 arrives home

G450 G-ULFM (4359) arrived at Luton this afternoon on delivery. It came in from Edinburgh but started the day at Rotterdam where it was caught by Marco Berkhout. Used the callsign PDY27A for the first sector and PDY27B for the final one.



Pendley Aviation upgrades

Pendley Aviation, based at Luton, have said goodbye to their G200 G-ZZOO (163) which departed to St. Johns in Canada on 19th April and subsequently became N163GA. It has been traded in for brand new G450 G-ULFM (4359) which has just been registered to them and should appear shortly. Hope to post a pic once it arrives but in the meantime ...

G-ZZOO departing Luton in 2015



G450 production to end

Gulfstream have today announced it will end production of the G450. This will pave the way for the introduction of the new G500. The G450 followed on from the G4 and G4SP and more than 870 of these have been produced. The last G450 is expected to be delivered in early 2018.

C-GFCP (4047) arrives at Palm Beach in February 2015

G450 deliveries

Deliveries of the G450 model continue to "tick over" recently despite the G500 being not far away which will probably replace it. Delivery of the 350th built can't be far away. N222NB (4348) has taken up it's new registration in the last few days and N312JC (4349) was delivered to Houston Hobby on the 29th of this month. Titles by the door include those of the Houston Astros, a local baseball team. The owner is Jim Crane which would explain the registration. It was caught by my man in Houston upon delivery.

Random Gulfstream photo #6

This is one of many Chinese registered Gulfstreams visiting London recently. G450 B-8308 (4309) was caught at Stansted on a brief visit by John Lythgoe.



Great scheme on a new G450

Sandals Resorts have recently replaced their Challenger 350 with this brand new G450 N450JS (4344). Pictured at Opa Locka by Matthew Tebo (MiamiAirborne on Instagram)



Random Gulfstream photo #4

Another great picture worth sharing here. This shot of G450 N71GE (4302) was taken by Antony Pratt at Luton at the end of December last year. Seen arriving from Le Bourget. My 100th post to this blog.



Random Gulfstream photo #1

Have just been sent this shot of G450 I-XPRA (4279) arriving at Bristol on 11th September. Looks to be fighting a crosswind. Many thanks to Graham Wasey for starting what may become a series.



Saudi Medevac re-equips

The Saudi Armed Forces Medical Services recently took delivery of a 3rd new Gulfstream 450. They now operate HZ-MS4A (4313), HZ-MS4B (4324) and HZ-MS4C (4328). HZ-MS4B was caught yesterday by Westleigh Bushell at Stansted.

This organisation has had a long history with Gulfstream having received a G2 in 1980 HZ-MSD (256) followed by another in 1984 HZ-MS4 (103) along with G3 HZ-MS3 (385). These were followed by G4 HZ-MS4 (1365) and G5s HZ-MS5A (644) and HZ-MS5B (583).

 

It is expected that the G5s will be retired now that newer machines are in service.